Iolani Palace raises U.S.
flag to honor Sept. 11 victims

In April 1917, deposed Queen Liliuokalani displayed the American flag at Washington Place to honor the deaths of Hawaiian military personnel during World War I.

Today, the board of directors at Iolani Palace are using that precedent to display Old Glory above the palace -- the first time the American flag has flown there since the restoration of the Hawaiian kingdom-era structure began in 1969.

Alice Guild, executive director of the Friends of Iolani Palace, said the board approved two days ago flying the American flag for 30 days along with the Hawaiian flag on the palace grounds to honor the victims who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

Guild said board members noted victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon represented 63 counties and included Hawaii residents.

There was discussion about flying the American flag days after the attacks, but no action could be taken until the board met this week. It was an unanimous decision, she said.

"We regretted that we were not able to do this sooner after the attacks," Guild said. "However, it was felt that a board decision should be made on this policy matter."

Guild explained the Hawaiian flag is usually flown alone because it is part of an effort to restore the palace to the late Hawaiian monarchy period. At other historic sites, such as Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, only flags from a particular period of American history are flown, she said.

"From time to time we do have people ask why the Hawaiian flag flies alone over the palace," she said.

"Actually, its the flag of the kingdom of Hawaii, which has different dimensions from the flag of the state of Hawaii. So the flag that usually flies over the palace is an historic flag."